French post offices in Zanzibar



The French post offices in Zanzibar were post offices operated by France in Zanzibar from January 16 1889 to July 31 1904, when the United Kingdom took direct control of what had previously been a protectorate.

The first issues prepared by France for use in Zanzibar were French stamps of the "Type Sage" design, overprinted with denominations expressed in annas (i.e. a sub-division of the Zanzibar rupee) across the top of the stamp. These began to appear in 1894. In 1896, France re-issued these stamps with an additional "ZANZIBAR" overprint across the bottom of the stamp. Many of the stamps of this design, especially those of 1897 created by printing on stamp margins, are very rare and expensive.

In 1902 French stamps of the "Type Blanc", "Type Mouchon," and "Type Merson" design were issued for use. These stamps incorporated the word "Zanzibar" as a part of the design, but still overprinted with denominations in annas. Stamps of this design were not regularly issued without the surcharge in annas.